THIS month, we celebrate a very special occasion: the National Teacher’s Month Campaign.

The Campaign, which is now in its second year, was conceived to respond to the call of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate World Teacher’s Day meaningfully on Oct. 5 of every year.

One of the objectives of the National Teacher’s Month Campaign is “to revitalize the image of teaching as a vocation by increasing public awareness on the value of teachers in Philippine society and national development.”

What better way to do this than to spread word about the remarkable achievements of Metrobank Foundation’s Search for Outstanding Teachers awardees?

• Mrs. Jingco, Master Teacher II with English as her specialization, was instrumental in the behavioral change among schoolchildren at the Angeles Elementary School after she conducted research on the effective use of EKAWP (Edukasyon sa Wastong Pag-uugali) Modules and Character-based Education in the instruction of GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct) lessons.

She also acts as their barangay’s coordinator for the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and has assisted her barangay’s Committee on Health and Sanitation.

• Mrs. Añar, Instructor II who specializes in Mathematics and Guidance Counseling, has developed several instructional materials and modules that have served as references for other teachers.

One such reference is her popular elementary mathematics module that employs fun activities for children to develop their love for learning math and solving complex mathematical problems.

She has also immersed herself in studying the difficulties future teachers encounter in their practice teaching assignments inside and outside of the Bukidnon State University.

• Dr. Conde, Master Teacher II — Specialization in Science, is known for her innovation in developing and recycling instructional materials.

Among her innovative devices are a brain model made up of used stockings and cotton, and an improvised rocket ship made of discarded plastic bottles.

Dr. Conde has also initiated different teaching strategies such as the Child-Friendly Approach, which focuses on the students’ inner and hidden feelings.

• Mrs. Aguilar, Master Teacher II with a specialization in English, has been an active figure in the implementation of the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao or BEAM, a project of the Department of Education funded by the Australian Government.

She has adapted an effective teaching strategy that she has named the “Half Life,” which enables a student to work independently by eliminating the number of pupils working on a particular task by 50 percent until such time that the child is left to work on the task alone.

• Dr. Tangan, Master Teacher I who specializes in Social Studies, initiated the birth of a functional audio-visual room at the Cagayan National High School, which has served as a venue for film-viewing, computer-aided instruction, seminars, competitions, meetings and review classes.

She also authored a Social Science workbook entitled “Sanayang Aklat sa Araling Panlipunan I,” which was adopted by the DepEd Division of Tuguegarao City.

More on the other teacher awardees in next week’s column.

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